Tuesday, 3 September 2013

10 things

I am in denial about the fact that Cam goes back to school tomorrow and Olivia on Thursday. I don't want this summer holiday with them to end. I'm used to hanging out with them; I miss them when they're at school.

However, at the same time I am VERY excited to find myself in September. I love September, and I love the autumn - it is definitely my favourite time of year.

My early morning runs in Epping Forest are heart-breakingly beautiful at the moment: mist, herons flying overhead, cobwebs covered with dew, the trees just on the turn from green to gold. I find myself energised by both the run and the spectacular scenery.

Dawn in the forest

Epping Forest during a dawn run this morning

I have a smartphone for the first time ever, and my eyes have been opened to the wonders of Instagram (where I am thelistwriter) and this Relaxing Sounds of Nature app. I play the nature sounds in the middle of the night when I am awake and reading my Kindle, while I am cooking breakfast if Radio 4 gets too argumentative, and while I am folding washing or paying bills. It makes everything just much nicer.

I've had such a long holiday from University, that I've started to forget that I'm actually a student nurse. When the children go back to school, my studying resumes too. I'm easing myself back in by spending the day with a friend at the newly refubished Royal College of Nursing library and heritage centre, just off Oxford Street. There will be some studying and much catching up about our summer holidays.

I need to squeeze in another blackberrying trip or two over the next few weeks. The brambles in Epping Forest are still groaning with sweet fruit.

The lawnmower has broken, my beloved Kindle is misbehaving and may be broken and I have just handed over what feels like my entire income for September to Clarks, M&S school uniform department and the local optician. This the other downside of the end of the school summer holidays - the children are each a shoe size and a half bigger than they were in the summer term, and at least two clothing sizes bigger. I'm not even exaggerating - they are gowing like weeds at the moment.

Graham went camping with his triathlon club at the weekend, and I realised that this has been the only camping trip by our family this summer. How did I let that happen?

I have another baby niece on the way, and am stalking Ravelry looking for inspiration. She will be my seventh niece/nephew, and the excitement does not diminish in the slightest with each new arrival - who will she be? what will she look like? So exciting to have another little person in the family.

I am also going to miss my children. Like mad. Big girl starts big school on Thursday, Little Girl is excited to be on her own at primary, and now the one responsible for bringing home all the "one per family letters. I am wondering how well we'll coordinate two school runs.

The school holidays flew by in the blink of an eye. I need at least another six weeks. Sorry about the lawnmower, the Kindle and the vast expenditure. Something similar happened here. Congratulations on the niece news. Hope you have a good week.

Podcasts! You're a genius. Can you think of any only slightly interesting ones you can recommend - we listen to the radio a lot in the night (broken nights with Eldest mean that our sleep patterns are completely unnatural and we've forgotten how to nod off unaided) and if we find something too perky we end up staying awake to listen rather than it lulling us off to sleep.

Even though I often do not have the time to reply to everybody, I really appreciate all your comments so much - thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your thoughts on what I've written.